Pressing machine



Aug. 25, 1931'. E; DAVIS 1,320,011

PRESSING MACHINE (PRESSURE ADJUSTING MEANS) Original Filed June 4, 1928 A Tom 5Y5,

Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERNEST DAVIS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY,

INC., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK PRESSING- MACHINE (PRESSURE ADJUSTING MEANS) Application filed June 4, 1928, Serial No. 282,689. Renewed January 22, 1931.

This invention relates to pressing machines as garment and laundry pressing machines, particularly machines using a spring or compressible pad, which in the continuous use of the machine becomes gradually more and more permanently compressed so that the pressure becomes gradually less. The principal object of the invention is to provide means for automatically compensating for the compression of the pad and thus maintaining a predetermined pressure, and to provide means for quickly resetting the compensating means so that it will start over again when a new pad has been installed or when a thicker class of articles is to be operated upon.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the constructions and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation, partly in section.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of parts seen in Figure 2. I The pressing machine itself may be of any suitable form, size and construction and comprises cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, and means for actuating the movable element.

In the machine here illustrated, the movable element is a head 1 which coactswith a fixed element or buck 2. The buck 2 is mounted 011 a bracket or goose neck 3 which in turn is mounted on a table or bench 4- ,supported by a frame or legs 5.

The head 1 is supported by a lever 6 pivoted between its ends at 7 to an upright S rising from the frame 5.

. The buck 2 is overlaid with the usual compressible padding P of any suitable materials and construction.

The means for actuating the head 1, in

addition to'the lever 6, comprises two parts 9 and 10 which normally act as a unit and form a link, part 9 being a rod pivotally connected at 11 at one end to the rear arm of the lever 6 and the part 1.0 being connected at 13 to a link 12, which link is pivoted at 14 to the frame. The parts 9 and 10 and the link 12 form a toggle.

This toggle is actuated by any well known mechanism, it being here shown as power actuated by a motor consisting of a cylinder 15, pivoted to the frame beneath the table 4, and having a piston rod 16 pivoted at 17 to a combined lever and pull link 18, the rear end of this lever and link 18 being pivoted at 19 to the link 12. The lever and link 18 has a lever movement about a fulcrum and also slides transversely of its fulcrum and is guided to have these movements by 1 a cam slot 20 associated with the frame, and

a follower on the link-18 movable in the slot.

The motor is single acting.

The closing movement of the press is against the action of countersprings 21 which act to open the press when the pressureinthe cylinder 15 is released.

The flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinder 15 is controlled by suitable man uals as push button 22 and lever 28. Insofar as this invention is concerned, the motor and its connection to the link 12 and the controlling means for the motor are .of no importance and form no part'of the invention.

Depression of the push button 22 permits motive fluid,'as air, to enter the cylinder 15 and actuate the piston therein and through the pull link 18 move the toggle, consisting of the link 12 and the parts 9 and 10, from the full line position to the dotted line position, Figure 2, and thus close the press, such closing being against the action of the countersprings 21.

The press is held closed by the pressure in the cylinder 15. To open the press, the lever 23 is operated to release the pressure in the cylinder 15 permitting the press to open compressed so that the maximum pressure of the machine decreases though to perform most efficiently the pressure should be maintalned.

The parts 9 and 10 have an adjustable movement endwise relatively toeach other so that the combined length of the parts, 9

and 10 can be extended or shortened, the

buck or varies the initial starting position of the head. Usually the part 9 is a rod which threads at 9 into the part 10 so that during the turning of the rod 9 in one direction is moves out of the part 10. The rod 9 is also rotatably fitted at its upper end ina coupling 24 which is pivoted at 11 to the rear arm of the lever 6.

The means for automatically compensating for the compression of the pad and maintaining the pressure substantially equal is the subject matter of my pending application Sr. No. 269,480, filed April 12, 1928.

This means comprises a driven member associated with the part or rod 9 to rotate it, and a driving member carried by the part 10, these members coacting with a ratcheting action. The member associated with the driving member is a pawl 26 coacting with the ratchet teeth 27 on the driven member 25, and the pawl is carried by a lever 28 which is pivoted between its ends at 29 to the part 10. The lower arm of the lever hasa head 30 arranged to engage the frame at 31 when the press closes a predetermined maximum distance in the normal operation. During the closing of the press, if the head 30 does not engage the frame, there is no coaction between the driving and driven members 25 and 26. However, when the pad compresses sufficiently, the head 30 of the lever 28 engages the frame at the end of the closing 4 movement of the press thus causing the lever 28 to be moved on its pivot 29 so that the pawl travels to the right, Figure 2, and takes hold in the ratchet teeth of the wheel 25.

During the next opening movement of the press, a spring 32 connected to the lever 28 immediately moves the lever on its pivot 29, thus moving the pawl to the left to turn the wheel 25 and rod 9 and screw the rod farther out of the part 10. The effective length of the parts 9 and 10 is thus extended and the front end of the lever 6 tilted slightly down- The extending operationv the buck 1 or thicker articles are to be operated upon, the parts 9 and 10 must be set back toward their original position.

Heretofore, it has been necessary for the operator to go to the rear of the machine and turn the wheel 25 in a retrograde direction. This heis loath to do. Oftentimes it is dangerous to go to the rear of the machine due to the proximity of other machines. oftentimes due to the fact that the machine is located near .a wall, the rear of the machine is not easily accessible. Also such adjustments are not permitted to be made except by a foreman or other authorized person. Hence the operator must either let his machine remain idle or work inefficiently.

This invention comprises means by which the wheel 25 can be quickly turned in a retrogradedirection from the front of the machine. This means consists of operating mechanism operable from the front of the machine and connected to the rod 9 to move it in a retrograde direction. 111 the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the rod 9 is provided with a bevel gear 33 at its upper end coacting with a bevel gear 34 mounted on a shaft 35 journalled in the coupling 24-. The outer end of the shaft 35 is connected through suitable means to a flexible shaft 36 having awrench head 37 at its front end. The flexible shaft is connected atits rcarend through shaft sections 38 and 39 and universal joints l0 and ll to the shaft 35. The shaft sections 38 and 39 extend along the lever 6 and the frontend of the flexible shaft 36 is carried in a bracket 42 near the pivot f the lever. 6.

A suitable socket wrench 44 is provided for turning the wrench head 37 although a handle may be provided directly on the front end of theshaft 36, and in either case, the

.shaft 36 is readily operable from the front of the machine. a

The gear 33 is located near the pivot 11 and is formed at the end of a cup shaped body 4-5 enclosing the coupling 24 and having a hub d6zk'eyed to the rod 9.

As the retrograde movement of the rod 9 and the wheel 25 would be obstructed by the engagement of the ratchet teeth of the wheel 25 with the pawl 26, means is provided for disengaging the pawl 26 and ratchet teeth 27. This disengagement is effected in the illustrated embodiment of my invention by shiftingthe wheel 25 upwardly. The shifting of the wheel 25 is effected automatically by means operable as the press approaches its wide open position and hence the shifting takes place during each opening of the press although the adjustment of the rod 9 manually, by means of the handle or wrench 414', is made. ordinarily only at comparatively long intervals. This adjustment may be made from once an hour or once aday to but once a week. w r V 1 The specific means here illustrated for shifting the wheel 25 is a rod or pusher 47 slidable vertically in a guide in the part 10 and thrusting at .its upperend against the wheel 25 and coacting at its lower end with a cam 48 fixed on the pivot 13 which is fixed to the link 12 so that during the .movement of the link 12 the pivot and the cam have a partial rotary movement relatively to the part 10.

As the press. approaches wide open position,.the lift part 490i the cam 48 moves under the end of the rod 47 and lifts it upwardly. 'When the press moves toward closed position, the lift part of the cam moves out from under the rod 47 permitting it to move downwardly and hence permitting the wheel 25 to move so that its ratchet teeth are free to coactwith thepawl 26. The wheel 25. will be operated during the initial opening movementof the press at such times as the head 30, at the lower end of the lever 28, engages the framedl during the closing of the press as before explained.

As the press approacheswide open position and the parts assume their position shown in full line position, Figure 2, the wheel 25 is shifted upwardly to carry its ratchet teeth 27 out of the path of the pawl 26 so that, if desired, the position of the press head can be adjusted manually by turning the flexible shaft 36 by means of the wrench 44, Of course, the head can be adjusted in either direction by the manual, but the primary purpose of the manual is to reset the head after the automatic take up operation.

By my invention, the press head is adjusted automatically to maintain a predetermined pressure by automatically taking up any variation in the thickness of the'padding and when a new pad is applied, or articles of greater thickness than those previously operated upon are to be pressed, the operator can readily adjust the press head to the new conditions by turning the shaft 86 by means of the wrench 4E4.

The operator does not have to accurately adjust the head manually but merely turns the wheel 25 by means of the wrench 414 far enough, or too far, in a retrograde direction. If it is turned too far, the pressure will automatically adjust itself upon one or two closings and openings of the press.

By reason of the automatic take up and provision. of means for resetting the take up operable from the front of the machine, the operator will keep the pressure adjusted so that the machine operates most efiiciently.

hat I claim is:

1. A pressing machine comprising coopcrating pressing elements, one of whichis movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including parts arranged in the rear of said elements and adjustably connected together and one being adjustably movable relatively to the other to vary the starting position of the movable element, and hence ad ust the pressure between said elements, means for I automatically adjusting one of said parts in one direction relatively to the other during the operation of the pressto maintain a predetermined pressure, and manual means for adjusting one ofsaid parts relatively to the other in the opposite direction including a portion movable with the actuating means and extending toward the front of the machine.

2. A. pressing machine comprisingcooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including two parts adjustably connected together, one part being rotatable relatively to the other to vary the initial starting position of the movable element and hence adjust the pres sure between said elements, said Parts being located in the rear of the pressing elements, means for automatically rotating the rotatable part in one direction during the operation ofthe press and manual means for rotating said part in the opposite direction including operating means movable with said rotatable part during the opening and closing of the press and extending from said part toward the front of the'machine.

8. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a lever carrying the movable element and two parts adjustably connected together and one being connected to said lever and rotatably connected to the other part-"and operable upon rotation to shift the lever on its pivot and vary the initial starting position of the movable element and hence adjust the pressure between said elements, means for automatically turning said rotatable part in one direction upon a predetermined maximum movement of the actuating mechanism and manual means for rotating said part in a retrograde direction including motion transmitting members connected to the rotatable part nearrthepivot between the rotatable part and the lever, the motion transmitting. members extending along the lever and having an operating end located near the pivot of the lever. I

4. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing elements,- one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element includ-. ing two parts arranged end to end and one having an endwise adjusting movement rel: atively to the otherto vary the initial starting position of the movable element, said parts beinglocated in the rear of the pressing elements, means for automatically op erating the movable part in one direction during the closing of the press a predetermined maximum distance comprising driving and driven members associated with said parts respectively and means for operating the driving member upon a predetermined maximum movement of said parts-during the closing of the press and manual means for moving the adjustable part in a retrograde direction including an operating member movable with said parts-and extending toward the front of the machine.

A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element comprising a pivoted lever carrying the movable element and a link including two parts, one part being adjustable endwisely relatively to the other part and rotatable to shift the same endwise relatively to the other, and operating means for rotating the adjustable part comprising a gearsecured to the rotatable part near the pivot connecting said part and the lever, a second gear meshing with the former gear, motion transmitting means connected to the second gear and extending along the lever and having an engaging end located near the pivot of the lever.

6. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing elements, oneof which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including two parts, one having an adjusting-movement relatively to the other to vary the initial starting position of the movable element, said parts being located in the rear of the pressing elements, means for automatically operating the movablepart in one di rection during the closing of the press a predetermined maximum distance comprising driving and driven members associated I respectively with said parts, and means for operating the driving members upon apre,

determined movement of said parts during the movement of the press in one direction, manual means for moving the adjustable part in a retrograde direction and means for automatically shifting one of said members out of engagement with the other as the press approaches open position. V

7. A pressing machine comprising coop erating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a toggle, one of the links of the toggle comprising two parts, one of which is adjustable endwisely relatively to the other, a driven member on the adjustable part and a driving member on the other part, means for actuating the driving member upon the closing of the press a predetermined max imum distance, means for shifting one of said members out of engagement with the other as the press approaches open position comprising a cam provided on theother link of the toggle and a motion transmitting part carried by the other part of the adjustable link and thrusting at one end against the cam and at itsother end against the driven member, the cam being so arranged that its lift portion engages said motion transmitting member during the opening of the press.

8. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable'toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a toggle located in the rear of said elements, one of the links of the toggle comprising two parts, one of which is adjustable endwisely relatively to the other, a driven member on the adjustable. part and a driving member on the other part, means for actuating the driving member upon the closing of the press a predetermined maximum distance, means for shifting one of said members out of engagement with the other as the press approaches open position comprising a cam provided on the other link of the toggle and a motion transmitting part carried by the other part of the adjustable link and thrusting 'at one end against the cam and at its other end against the driven member, the cam being so arranged that its lift portion engages said motion transmitting member during the opening of the press, and manual means for turning said adjustable part, the manual means extending toward thefront of the press and having an engaging end located near said pressing elements.

9. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movabletoward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including a toggle, one of the links of the toggle including two parts, one of which is adjustable endwisely relatively to the other, a wheel on the-adjustable part to turn it, the wheel being shiitable axially, means normally preventing turning of the wheel in one direction, means for automatically shifting the wheel axially out of engagement with the preventing means including a cam associated with the other link of the toggle and motion transmitting means coacting atone end with the cam and thrusting at its other end against the wheel, the lift of the cam being arranged to engage the motion transmitting means when the toggle is in a predetermined position.

10. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of Which is movable toward and from the'other, means for actuating the movable element including parts adjustably connected together, one being adjustably movable relatively to the other to adjust the pressure between said elements, means for. adjusting one'of said parts comprising a manual and connections operated thereby movable with said parts during the operation of the press and having an operating portion extending from said relatively movable part and secured to the frame.

11. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including parts adjustably connected together, one being adjustably movable relatively to the other to adjust the pressure between said elements, means for adjusting one of said parts comprising a manual and connections operated thereby movable with said parts during the operation of the press and having a flexible operating portion extending from said relatively movable part and secured to the frame.

12. In a pressing machine, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element including parts adjustably connected together, one being adjustably movable relatively to the other to adjust the pressure between said elements means for adjusting one of said parts comprising a manual and connections operated thereby movable with said parts during the operation of the press and having an operating portion extending from said relatively movable part and secured to the frame, said adjusting means comprising a gear mounted on one of said parts and movable therewith, a second gear also mounted on one of said parts and movable therewith and meshing with the former gear, motion transmitting connections to the second gear, the motion transmitting means including a flexible portion secured at its end remote from the gear to the frame of the machine. 7

13. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination a frame; cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other; operating mechanism for the movable pressing element including mechanism operable automatically, during a cycle of operation of the press, to adjust the operating mechanism to compensate for changes in the distance between the movable pressing element, when in open position, and the work on the other pressing element; and manual means mounted on the frame and connected with the adjustable mechanism for moving said mechanism in a reverse direction.

14. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination a frame; cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other; operating mechanism for the movable pressing element including parts adj ustably connected together, one being adjustably movable relatively to the other to adjust the pressure between the pressing elements; means for adjusting one of said parts including a manual mounted on the frame; and connections between the adjustable parts of the'operating mechanism and the manual.

15. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination a frame; cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other; operating mechanism for the movable pressing element including mechanism operable automatically, during a cycle of operation of the press, to change the length of one of the members of the operating mechanism and thereby increasing the final pressure applied by the press; manual means mounted on the frame and connected with the operating mechanism to change the length of said member in a reverse direction to that in which the automatic mechanism changes the length.

16. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination a frame; cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other; operating mechanism for the movable pressing element including a toggle; means operating on-the toggle to automatically increase the effective length of said toggle if the pressing elements move together beyond a predetermined position; manual means for shortening the effective length of the toggle.

17. In a garment or laundry pressing machine in combination a frame; cooperative pressing elements one of which is movable with respect to the other; operating mechanism for the movable pressing element including mechanism operable automatically, during a cycle of operation of the press, to adjust the operating mechanism to compensate for changes in the distance between the movable pressing element, when in open position, and the work on the other pressing element; means to disengage the automatic adjusting mechanism; and manual means mounted on the frame and connected with the adjusting mechanism and operable to move said mechanism in a reverse direction when in disengaged position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, and in the State of New York, this 29th day of May, 1928.

ERNEST DAVIS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,820,011. Granted August 25, 1931, to

ERNEST DAVIS.

appears in the printed specification oi the eetieri as follows: Page 2, line 17, for the after the Word "frame" insert the Word at;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read. with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of November, A. D. 1931.

It is hereby certified that error above numbered patent requiring eorr word "is" read it; page 3, line 23,

M. J Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

